Michael Merrifield
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astromikemerri.bsky.social
Michael Merrifield
@astromikemerri.bsky.social
Emeritus professor of astronomy at the University of Nottingham. Too frequent appearances on YouTube. All my own views.
Everyone is hungry today. 🪶
November 15, 2025 at 1:08 PM
He is not wrong. The best I could do while head of school was the prophylactic offering of trying to protect my staff from the worst of it, to preserve a bubble of academic environment.
November 15, 2025 at 9:31 AM
Uh-oh! It seems that my post-retirement messing around with digital electronics is a manifestation of evil.
November 15, 2025 at 9:06 AM
Awww!
November 14, 2025 at 6:30 PM
By the wonders of two mini stepper motors, a little digital electronics, some ChatGPT-assisted coding, and some nifty 3D printing, I give you the interactive experience that is sure to sweep the nation: TTA — Tiny Theft Auto.

OK, I’ll stop now.
November 13, 2025 at 4:51 PM
(In fact, seem to have called in the Swedish Air Force for the job.)
November 13, 2025 at 3:19 PM
It’s that time of the year once more when the RAF bomb the baby seals at Donna Nook.

(Relax — the bombing range is a little further down the coast.)
November 13, 2025 at 2:57 PM
A first for our bird feeder. 🪶
November 12, 2025 at 12:47 PM
A reminder that you should not keep rotating your telescope in the same direction indefinitely. 🔭

(spacenews.com/key-antenna-...)
November 11, 2025 at 7:33 PM
Where’s Bayleaf when you need him? IYKYK
November 11, 2025 at 11:38 AM
3I/ATLAS Update: would you believe it? It’s *still* a comet. 🔭

(www.virtualtelescope.eu/2025/11/11/i...)
November 11, 2025 at 10:09 AM
Giving the new electronics a work out… and I think I even just about stayed within track limits!
November 9, 2025 at 9:54 PM
I be am a big fan of prototyping boards that look just like breadboards, so you can translate a circuit directing over.

Though did I mention that I really dislike soldering?
November 9, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Maybe it’s time I tried a different game…
November 8, 2025 at 7:39 PM
Yes we do. Thrusters don’t thrust in random directions. Also, it’s a comet.
November 8, 2025 at 4:42 PM
#3IATLAS update: it’s still a comet.

Now far enough from the Sun to get a decent view of its fairly complex tail structure (www.facebook.com/share/p/184n...). 🔭
November 8, 2025 at 8:55 AM
November 7, 2025 at 9:10 PM
If you get bored with driving the world’s smallest luxury sports car round the track, then you can take the world’s smallest luxury motor yacht out for a spin instead.
November 7, 2025 at 8:58 PM
Stop Press: #3IATLAS is *still* a comet. 🔭

(www.virtualtelescope.eu/2025/11/07/i...)
November 7, 2025 at 8:16 PM
Do these count?
November 7, 2025 at 2:43 PM
Cracking topic, Gromit.
November 7, 2025 at 1:36 PM
What’s the betting that the University’s senior management didn’t even consider this point, let alone quantify its likely impact, before deciding to “suspend” music.
November 6, 2025 at 9:05 PM
Quite a place, if a little hidden from view! hillforts.arch.ox.ac.uk/records/EN37...
November 6, 2025 at 10:16 AM
🏴🏳️ Track limits exceeded…
November 4, 2025 at 6:12 PM
A bit of culture at the New Art Exchange.
November 4, 2025 at 3:26 PM